Stopping livestock access to rivers, creek and streams not only improves water quality but reduces the degradation of the waterways, according to Glendonbrook landholder John Drinan.
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A field day was held last month at Glendonbrook near Singleton where participants could see the result of more than a decade’s work on John and Anne Drinan’s property Wahgunyah.
The Drinans began excluding their cattle from Webbers Creek, that flows through the property, 12 years ago.
The work involved fencing off the creek and letting the vegetation regenerate and providing the stock with another watering source.
“What we found from that early work was how excluding the stock improved the water quality and stopped the banks eroding but the regeneration of the vegetation was disappointing,” he said.
“In subsequent work we planted native eucalypts and other shrubs and watered them until they were established and the results were outstanding.”
The Drinans have now fenced off nearly the entire 3km length of Webbers Creek and also Drinans Creek using their own funds plus money from Landcare projects.
“The results in terms of improved water quality is fantastic and that helps the whole community,” Mr Drinan said.
“My belief is that it should become a priority to stop livestock access to all our waterways given the damage it does and the improvements achieved when they are prohibited.”
Now landholders in the Glendonbrook catchment have an opportunity to apply for funding for on-ground works to improve water quality under a new project developed by Glencore and Hunter Local Land Services (LLS).
The Glendonbrook Riparian Enhancement Program, launched last month, is a new small grants project funded by Glencore and managed by Hunter LLS.
Its aim is to deliver support to landholders to implement on-ground works, which will improve water quality, aquatic health, stream-bank stability and riparian vegetation condition.
Landholders can also apply for funding for projects which improve grazing management and ground cover on erodible soils if they can demonstrate the project will lead to an overall improvement in water quality.
Landholders in the Glendonbrook catchment are invited to apply for up to $15,000 of funding to assist them in on-ground works to make these improvements.
Works could include fencing out creeks and streams, stabilising eroding banks and natural regeneration of native vegetation or planting.
Project manager Steve Clarkson said: “The project will assist to remediate and stabilise banks of third order streams and above, and improve the water quality of those major streams in the Glendon Brook catchment.”
The Glendonbrook catchment has been identified as a priority catchment as soils in some areas are highly susceptible to degradation due to the parent geology and land management practices.
“We have found that landholders in the Glendonbrook catchment are keen to seek advice on sustainable agriculture issues and are very receptive to improving their farming properties while finding ways to increase productivity,” Mr Clarkson said.
Glencore’s community relations manager Craig Strudwick said: “The good response to the field day suggests that this program will be strongly supported, and we’re delighted to be able to support the local community in partnership with Hunter LLS.”
Landholders who are interested in obtaining funding for on-ground works to improve riparian areas are invited to contact Mr Clarkson by email sclarkson@singleton.nsw.gov.au or 6578 7346.